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What was viewed as the weakness for Bethel Park last year should be a strength this season, as Jeff Metheny is counting on strong blocking from his offensive line and fullbacks.

The Black Hawks need it, considering they lost their entire starting backfield.

“We looked at our scheme, looked at our players, and we just didn't execute very well,” Metheny said. “We weren't strong up front, weren't strong at fullback. We just didn't block very well. North Allegheny proved the past two years that you can do a lot with a pretty good line. We've got to build from those guys.”

Left tackle Mike Grimm, a 6-foot-7, 315-pound junior who started every game last fall, should anchor the offensive line. He has scholarship offers from Pitt and Youngstown State, and more schools are expected to come after the powerful prospect whom Metheny says “looks like a big-time lineman.”

“He was just green last year, starting as a sophomore. You could tell on film he got better as the year went on,” Metheny said. “He's strong, and he's got pretty good feet. He works real hard. He needs playing time. He's still green, that's for sure. By the time he's got his 15th start under his belt, he should be ready to go.”

Serving as a bookend tackle will be 6-4, 315-pound junior Casey Schreiner, giving Bethel Park a big front bolstered by tight ends Mike Brucker and Tom Ernst and a fullback-by-committee in John Mascaro, Carmen Jansante, Corey Roach and Bryan Rock.

The Black Hawks have to determine who will start at quarterback and tailback. Seniors Cam Hay and Shawn Seavy will battle talented freshman Levi Metheny for playing time at quarterback. Gary Gerst, Zack Enick and Zack Schmidt are vying for the tailback job. Metheny might try using all three quarterbacks, depending on their strengths and the dependability of the running back.

“There's some things we can do with him,” Metheny said of his son, Levi. “You'd like one of the seniors to step up and take the job.”

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